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I've used both, and as one would expect, the Sig is the finer weapon. Kinda like comparing a Rolex to a Seiko. Both work fine, but one has the panache of fine workmanship that the other doesn't.

If you and her just look at handguns as mere tools, then the Bersa will do just fine. The one my wife had was a fine pistol, but she had a FTF every now and then due to limpwristing. It shot 100% for me. She used it as a beginner's training weapon, where it served well. We no longer have it, as she has graduated to a Glock 26 and a 642.

While a blowback action will have a bit more felt recoil, there isn't enough of a difference blowback and locked-breach recoil to make a difference in real life. IOW, if you can't handle a blowback, then you aren't going to be able to handle same-caliber locked-breech either.

As for other options -- for actual carry I would agree with the revolver suggestions, for too many reasons to add in this post. My wife qualified w/a pistol just so she would be able to carry a pistol if she felt like it, but her actual carry is the 642 (a revolver). Other options are the smaller Kahr 9mm's, (especially the MK9), which are smaller than the Bersa or Sig. Advantages of the 9mm are that it's cheaper to shoot but more powerful.

Options for a range/training pistol are the CZ82, and the 9mm auto's that have interchangeable backstraps that will allow you to adjust to a smaller hand size. Some of these come in compact versions as well, so you could use it as both a range/training gun and a carry gun as well.

PhilR.